About the role
Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) is the Government's flagship programme to improve connectivity between the North's major cities, at the heart of the Northern Growth Strategy. Its focus is the Northern Growth Corridor - between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford and York, with regular services to Newcastle, Hull and Chester also benefitting. NPR aims to ensure passengers in the North will benefit from convenient, consistent services boosting the ability and confidence of commuters to use the railways, helping drive Northern growth.
The Government has committed a £45 billion funding envelope for the delivery of NPR as a long-term programme. In January 2026, the government announced support for NPR and a three-phase approach to delivery:
- Phase 1 focuses on Leeds to Sheffield, Leeds to Bradford and Leeds to York.
- Phase 2 focuses on service improvements between Liverpool and Manchester.
- Phase 3 considers cross-pennine links, building on the government's investment in the Transpennine Route Upgrade.
The three phases of delivery will see major construction work in the 2030s, continuing through to the 2040s.
NPR is a high-profile portfolio with high stakeholder interest from senior National and Regional leadership teams, along with a range of external stakeholders including Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSA) and Train Operating Companies (TOCs).
This is an excellent opportunity to work both in a supportive team and across the business. The scope is broad as you will collaborate and contribute towards the developing the future of the railway network in the North. It is an exciting time to join the team to help us meet the development milestones and support the outputs agreed with the Department for Transport (DfT).
Job Purpose:
As a Senior Programme Development Manager (PDM) you will function as a Senior Project Sponsor and guiding mind for the current development stage. You will work closely with the Lead Programme Development Manager to shape and direct the current development stage whilst developing links in a sponsorship role between the client, Region, delivery agent and key stakeholders.
This is a sponsorship role supporting the development of NPR, including developing Network System wide Programmes. (e.g. Traction Power, Train Control Strategies, Systems Integration) confirming the project benefits and project outcomes to agreed scope, time and cost.
We are looking for someone with a good knowledge of the rail network, working collaboratively with our Asset Management teams, Operators with a varied and adaptable skillset including:
- A technical mindset with an ability to think of the railway as a connected system, whilst also being able to focus on detail of engineering development and programme requirements
- Strong experience and knowledge of project development and understanding of the project lifecycle.
- Collaboratively collaborating with teams and stakeholders, including experience of managing a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including experience of influencing and negotiation with often senior stakeholders.
- Industry expert; challenging evidence and opinions, articulating complex problems in a simple manner, and leading project teams in a matrix organisation.
- Excellent time management and working to challenging deadlines
- Pragmatic and creative problem solving, balancing both project detail and programme objectives
- Excellent communication skills to a range of audiences at all levels, both written and verbal
This is a great opportunity to work both in a supportive team and across the business. The scope is broad as you will collaborate and contribute towards the NPR portfolio that will develop the future of the railway network in the north.
You will be a key part of the NPR Sponsorship Leadership team, responsible for making sure that NPR's benefits are realised, and that we understand how we can make a difference by maximising benefits and minimising costs.
You will collaborate closely with technical specialists including economists, engineers and capacity analysts to take technical information and build the story of NPR. The role will see you interact with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, primarily our route and integration colleagues.
You will need to think strategically, see the bigger picture and be comfortable navigating the complexities of the rail industry to achieve results.
Key Accountabilities:
- Build effective relationships, (internally & externally) to balance the requirements of the funder, Network Rail and the industry as a whole. Champion the interests of funder, customers and stakeholders acting as the focal point for escalation within Network Rail.
- Review and interrogate remits to confirm their viability. Work with internal and external stakeholders to establish a scope which optimises funder requirements, value for money, network availability and capacity for future development and whole life cost.
- Be responsible for the conversion of the remit into an agreed specification. Be accountable for development of the initial project plan and budget; working with the project manager to specify how the project portfolio is going to be delivered, expected milestones and associated timescales, resource requirements, risks & issues and funding needs/sources.
- Progress cost efficiencies and process improvements across the project portfolio to meet control period targets.
- Own and manage business cases and investment papers for a portfolio of projects.
- Devise solutions which maintain the 'business as usual' accessibility for our customers, take consideration of the 7 day railway principles and therefore minimise disruption to end rail users. Take a national/route wide view across portfolios to generate additional benefits, identify and resolve conflicting work and drive efficiencies.
- Lead the process of quantifying risk associated with the project portfolio. Devise mitigating actions and periodically review recovery progress.
- Interrogate and challenge plans to assess the deliverability of agreed scope within stated timescales and cost parameters, presenting any required scope changes to the client for approval.
- Hold the delivery partner accountable for delivery to cost, time and scope parameters. Hold periodic reviews to understand and challenge delivery progress against the output specification and agreed contract terms. Communicate progress status against defined milestones and expectations to stakeholders.
- Lead negotiations with customers and stakeholders on the project portfolio's commercial and contractual terms in accordance with relevant corporate policy and strategy. Act as the focal point for negotiations and resolution of external scheme interface requirements, including any Parliamentary or Statutory processes, external consents issues to optimise the value of the scheme to Network Rail and funder(s).
- Comply with the requirements of investment regulations, and other corporate and project
- Build and manage relationships (internally & externally) through effective stakeholder management to balance the requirements of the Government, Network Rail and the industry as a whole.
Facilitate the discharge of the duties assigned by the CDM Co-ordinator [Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd] as detailed within the Construction, Design and Management Regulations 2015.
Essential Criteria:
- Qualified to degree level or equivalent
- Experience of dealing with client portfolios and consulting with people at all levels
- Ability to articulate complex business problems into manageable work packages and produce synthesised logical solutions
- Proven ability to write coherently; conveying report / investment information in a concise manner
- Commercially astute, persuasive, and client-driven
- Proven influencing and negotiating skills
Desirable Criteria:
- Railway Operations knowledge
- Experience working in complex multi-disciplined Programmes
- Experience in significant management roles in a commercial environment
- MBA or other related postgraduate qualification
Please note: Applicants must provide proof of essential qualifications and/or competencies where required, or demonstrate active progress toward obtaining them, or evidence their applicable experience as a condition of employment.
External how to apply:
Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor.
We are a Disability Confident Leader employer! We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
We are here to support you through every step of the recruitment process and to enable you to perform to the best of your ability. If you require any adjustments or modifications please contact Mark Holt (Resourcing Business Partner) at mark.holt@networkrail.co.uk. You can also visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available.
We positively embrace flexible working, recognising that employees may wish to balance work with their family and home life.
Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here
Network Rail is required to comply with UK Government standards when carrying out pre-employment checks for all new starters; this includes a basic criminal record check. In addition to the basic criminal record check, in accordance with the UK Government we are also required to verify your identity, right to work in the UK and previous three years employment history.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information. Please ensure you have the appropriate Right to Work status when applying for this role."
Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do, safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should be able to demonstrate your personal commitment to safety and awareness of our safety vision.
Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including a choice of contributory pension schemes, a generous annual leave package, a bonus scheme and an annual 75% subsidy on season tickets costing up to £3,333 (to a maximum amount of £2,500). You will also be entitled to 28 days annual leave
Salary: £71,163 to £86,801 per annum.
Car allowance: £6,000 per annum.
*Employees will be entitled to a 75% discount off leisure travel, this includes off peak and super off peak tickets*
***Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.****
Closing date: 19th November 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.
What's in it for you
Here are a few of the benefits we offer
- 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
- Choice of pension schemes
- 75% discount of leisure travel for you and your family
- Private Healthcare
- 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
- Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
- Gym Pass -access to gyms across UK
- My Benefits platform- giving national and local retail discount
Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we'll do our best to assist you.
Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information.